So Long, Sydney

We all know that Sydney Pollack passed away this week. While I loved having him in the director's chair, for gems such as Out of Africa and Tootsie, it was always his fun cameos in his acting guise that made me happy. Recently, the other half and I (when we still had cable, when we still had a television, when we still had a home) had been catching constant playings of Death Becomes Her. He has the little bit as the doctor examining Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep) just after her unfortunate fall down the stairs. Great comic timing, and quite a presence on the screen. I always wonder when I watch that portion of the film; how he and Meryl interacted, considering the deep relationship they must have had on Out of Africa. Maybe it's just me. We saw The Interpreter recently. While I didn't love the film, I did heartily enjoy his interview about the film...I think it was with Charlie Rose...right around the time of its release. He seemed so genuine, and along with George Romero and Clint Eastwood, one of the directors I always fancied working with. He seemed super w/ actors (maybe cuz he was such a good one himself); based on what I had read or heard in interviews. He will be missed. Here's a link w/ more info.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080528/people_nm/pollack_dc_14